“On the evening of January 11, 1892, the present historical society was organized. In the first year a total of 2,247 books, pamphlets and newspapers had been collected.”
“The collection was made with the excellent ideal in view that ‘nothing ever printed in this country, even an ephemeral hand-bill, is with out ultimate historic interest, and there is destroyed every month in this community materials that would be of permanent interest and value on the shelves of our library.’”
“In accord with this ideal, large additions have been made to the library, but the fact remains that many pamphlets, handbills and newspapers have not been secured and it would be well worth while, if every household in the Hawaiian Islands instead of destroying any such papers printed in English or Hawaiian, especially of the very old printing, would send the entire lot to the Hawaiian Historical Society to be sorted over.”
“Even the Paradise of the Pacific previous to 1901 is an incomplete set and many annuals and pamphlets are lacking. Donations of every kind would not be amiss.”
“This society celebrates its twenty-first birthday tonight (Jan 11, 1913). All through these years the Honolulu Library Association and the Hawaiian Historical Society have lived and worked together almost as if they were the same organization.”
“This close cooperation was secured in the first year of the society’s existence and is to-night consummated by our continued dwelling together in this splendid new library building on the same conditions practically as during all the years past.”
“It will be well worth while this anniversary evening to look back beyond the organization of our society to the beginning of whatever work has been done toward recording Hawaiian history and the effort put forth to have some organized body systematically undertake historical research. This leads to the first Hawaiian Historical Society and its origin.”
“In 1838 the first history of the Hawaiian people was published by the Mission school printing press at Lahainaluna. It was called ‘Ka Mooolelo Hawaii’ (the History of Hawaii). It was a very small book of 116 pages.”
“It had this inscription on its title page – ‘Written by some of the scholars of the great school and corrected by one of the teachers.’”
“That teacher was Rev. Sheldon Dibble, who used this small history as the foundation of the larger book published in English in 1843 and republished by Mr. Thrum in 1909.”
“In the preface of this history Mr. Dibble tells how he worked with his pupils to gather the material upon which all Hawaiian history has been based.”
“He says: ‘In 1836 I made some effort to collect the main facts of Hawaiian history. Most important events were afloat in the memories of the people and fast passing into oblivion. If they were to be preserved it was time they were collected.’”
“Dibble drew up a list of historical questions and selected the ten most promising scholars in Lahainaluna school, then set them at work.”
“He says, ‘I formed them into a class of inquiry. I gave them the first question and conversed freely with them upon it … then requested them to go separately to the most knowing of the chiefs and people, gain all the information they could on the question given out, commit each his information to writing and be ready to read it on a day and hour appointed.’”
“‘At the time of meeting each scholar read what he had written, discrepancies were reconciled and corrections made and all compositions handed to me, out of which I endeavored to make one connected and true account. At last a volume was prepared and printed in the Hawaiian language.’”
“The results of this plan were four – (1) a history of the islands which is now a classic, (2) an interest in history aroused in the minds of the older and more prominent Hawaiians, as they saw the benefit of preserving the ancient history of their own people …”
“… (3) a body of the best-educated Hawaiians trained along the line of historical research, (4) each one of these men was drilled many months in the art of expressing in writing the ideas received in his conversations with the older people.”
“Dibble was sent to the United States to see if he could recover from threatened pulmonary troubles. His pupils evidently continued the work with varying degrees of success.”
“In later years valuable historical articles by several of these men were contributed to the native papers and two, David Malo and S. M. Kamakau, have written and published enough material to make two or more volumes of Hawaiian lore.”
“To David Malo we owe the best description we have of Hawaiian customs and to Kamakau we are indebted for the most comprehensive historical statements, especially concerning the life of Kamehameha the First.”
“When Dibble returned to Lahaina he renewed his endeavor to collect Hawaiian history. He writes in 1843: ‘A Royal Historical Society has been formed by means of which some information has been gained.’”
“We would have no further knowledge concerning this society if Kamakau had not made a record of its origin and end and printed it in the Kuokoa of 1865.”
“Kamakau says: ‘A society was started at Lahainaluna according to the desire of the teachers. As the people of Alebione (Albion) had their British history and read about the Saxons and William, so the Hawaiians should read their history. So in 1841 the society was organized.’”
“Kamehameha III, John Young (a son of the friend of Kamehameha I), Haalilio, David Malo, D. Baldwin, William Richards, S. Dibble, Kamakau and many others were present.”
“Kamehameha III was elected president, William Richards, vice-president; S. Dibble, secretary, and S. M. Kamakau, treasurer.”
“‘The king said he thought the history of all the islands should be preserved from first to last.’”
“To David Malo was given the history of Umi, to John Young was allotted the coming of the first foreigners, to Haalilio the childhood of Kamehameha I, Kihapiilani was allotted to Kamakau, and the first ships anchoring at Lahaina to A. Moku. The missionaries and wise people from Hawaii to Kauai were given questions about the places where they lived.”
“For about three years this society ‘paa‘i’ – i.e. did its work faithfully, but when Dibble died and the king moved to Honolulu because of the new legislature started there, ‘the work of collecting the ancient things of the islands became “hemahema” i. e., very faulty, and the society came to an end.”
“Kamakau says, ‘If Dibble had lived we should have had a full story of Hawaii.’ About his own work he says in 1865: ‘I have gathered history from Hawaii to Kauai, but there are many things I do – not know and which, not having heard, I cannot teach.’”
“‘It might be well to have four men like myself paid each to go around his island and ask the old people who are still living for the facts and stories about the places where they live.’”
“‘These men must be wise and well known. The trouble is that already many of the residents are like strangers to the places where they dwell and do not know the history.’”
“SN Haleole, who probably was one of the prominent citizens of Wailuku, is the only source I can find for the following statement in the Kuokoa, Vol. IV, Nos. 16 and 22. He says:”
“‘I have been gathering the traditions and history of Hawaii for eighteen years and have been writing about Kamehameha in the ‘Hoku o ka Pakipika.’’”
“According to Haleole, a historical society was organized in March, 1863, and his work was the story of Kamehameha. He says he had ‘a great book filled with historical material.’”
“The above account is the record of the foundation of the first historical society and the method of securing the facts upon which all the Hawaiian history of all the later years has been based.” (Westervelt, 1913)
Today, the Hawaiian Historical Society publishes books in English and Hawaiian, and The Hawaiian Journal of History. This annual publication, which is included free as a benefit of membership, is the only peer-reviewed journal to focus on the history of Hawaiians and all other cultures in Hawai’i during both pre- and post-contact times.
Hawaiian Historical Society leases space from Hawaiian Mission Houses. If you would like to support the important work of the Society, annual dues start at $20 for students, $30 for seniors, and $40 for individuals, or you can make a contribution. You can join by clicking here, or call 808-537-6271 or e-mail HHSOffice@hawaiianhistory.org.
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